UC High students learned about sports safety at an assembly presented by Athletes Saving Athletes (ASA) on January 7 in the media center.
ASA is a program run by the nonprofit organization Advocates for Injured Athletes (“A4IA”) in which Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) go to high schools and teach student athletes “signs and symptoms of life-threatening injuries and conditions,” according to the A4IA website. “The goal of ASA is to reduce the risk and incidence of injury and death for student athletes and using the power of education and kids talking to kids” (injuredathletes.org).
According to Vice Principal Michael Paredes, coaches from most sports selected student representatives to attend the assembly. A total of 47 students attended.
At the assembly, students learned about the symptoms of and how to respond to concussions, head and neck injuries, heat illness, sudden cardiac arrest, and asthma. Students also learned how to do Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and practiced CPR on manikins (injuredathletes.org). Also, ASA staff simulated an emergency in which a couple of students used an AED on a manikin while others watched.
“One of the most important things you learned today,” ASA Co-founder Beth Mallon told students, “is where those AEDs are on your campus.”
The ASA speakers asked students who had a medical condition such as asthma to share their own experiences as well. Volleyball Representative Melia Carlin shared how she deals with diabetes as an athlete.
An ASA speaker encouraged student representatives to inform their teammates about what they learned at the assembly.
Mallon said ASA aims to raise awareness among student athletes about medical conditions they cope with while performing in their respective sports. “We’re trying to get athletes to talk about it,” said Mallon. “Most athletes don’t want to mention it, don’t want to be different, don’t want to have any attention.”
Athletic Director Mary Ann McLaughlin said that ASA’s purpose is also to enable students to identify other athletes who are injured. McLaughlin said, “Often, what happens is our athletes get injured, but don’t tell their coach,” for reasons such as “wanting to play.”
“We want you to take these [skills] out and use these skills with your teammates and even opponents,” ATC Kelly Johnson told students. She added, “Some of these skills may be useful in your everyday life.”
Sophomore Victoria Wade agreed. “I’ll be able to use [skills such as CPR] in sports like tennis and in life,” she said.
“I learned how to save somebody when they’re in cardiac arrest,” said Basketball Representative Amanda Whitney. “You get the AED, and then call 911, and do compressions.”
“I thought [the assembly] was really informative. ASA is not trying to teach you how to cure people, but just make you recognize the symptoms so you can get help,” said Soccer Representative Madison Agnew.
According to ASA Volunteer Elizabeth Reed, ASA will have race to “raise awareness and funds” on March 2 at Cathedral Catholic High School from 11:30-1:30.
According to A4IA’s website, Mallon and her son founded A4IA after her son had a near-fatal collision in a lacrosse game but lived due to the help of an on-site ATC (injuredathletes.org).